# US 2014/0152053 A1 · Side outer panel for vehicle

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- Number: US 2014/0152053 A1
- Document ID: US20140152053A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/127,334
- Filed: 2012-04-25
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2011-07-12
- Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Yasunori Watanabe; Kenichi Kitayama; Shigeyuki Nagai
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140152053A1

## CPC

- B62D 25/04: Door pillars {; windshield pillars}
- B62D 25/02: Side panels {(B62D33/046 takes precedence; sideboards for open load compartments B62D33/023)}
- B62D 25/025: {Side sills thereof}
- B62D 25/2036: {the subunits being side panels, sills or pillars (B62D21/157 takes precedence)}
- B62D 27/00: Connections between superstructure {or understructure} sub-units {(B62D33/0207, B62D33/044 take precedence; between sub-units predominently made of synthetic material B62D29/048)}
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)

## Abstract

A first outer panel has: a first general surface; and a first flange section having an end section of the first general surface recessed more than the first general surface . A second outer panel has: a second general surface having a surface flush with the first general surface; and a second flange section that is recessed from the second general surface and is joined overlapping with the first flange section . A joint that is recessed more than the first and second general surface is formed in the joined section. A filler substance is provided in the joint, and the section from the first general surface to the second general surface is formed in a continuous surface.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-12. (canceled)

### Claim 13

A frame-shaped side outer panel for a vehicle, characterized in that:
the side outer panel is separated into an upper frame and a lower frame,
the upper frame is integrally formed of an ordinary steel plate and includes a front pillar outer upper section, a roof side outer, a rear pillar outer, and a rear fender, while the lower frame is integrally formed of a steel plate of higher tensile strength than the upper frame and includes a front pillar outer lower section and a side sill outer,
in the joint of the front pillar outer upper section and the front pillar outer lower section, a region covered by a front fender as an exterior component is clinch-joined, and in the joint of the side sill outer and the rear pillar outer, a region covered by a side sill garnish as an exterior component is clinch-joined.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The side outer panel for a vehicle, according to claim 13, wherein a region of the joint which is not concealed by the exterior component is formed into a seam which is depressed relative to general surfaces constituting surfaces of the panel and spot-weld-connected to the latter.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The side outer panel for a vehicle, according to claim 13, wherein the front pillar outer upper section and the front pillar outer lower section are formed into a U-shaped cross section, with bottom surfaces of the U-shaped cross section being clinch-joined to one another.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The side outer panel for a vehicle, according to claim 13, wherein a hot-stamped center pillar outer is spot-welded between the roof side outer and the side sill outer.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The side outer panel for a vehicle, according to claim 14, the depressed seam in the region of the joint not concealed by the exterior component is provided with a filler.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The side outer panel for a vehicle, according to claim 17, wherein the seam is filled with the filler up to a surface height of the general surfaces so that the same surfaces are formed into a continuous surface.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The side outer panel for a vehicle, according to claim 13, wherein the joint is coated with a dust sealer in a region thereof covered by the exterior component.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The side outer panel for a vehicle, according to claim 17, wherein the filler is a hot melt in the form of a fixed-width tape

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The side outer panel for a vehicle, according to claim 17, wherein the filler is a dust sealer.

### Claim 22 (depends on 16)

The side outer panel for a vehicle, according to claim 16, wherein the seam is provided at a center pillar outer